Cash Carryover Higher for 2012

January 12, 2013

Jefferson County commissioners said the county ended up with more cash on hand in the budget at the end of 2012 than expected.

Commissioner Thomas Graham said the county had a $2.3 million cash balance at the end of the year. After bills and other expenses are covered, the county has $1.2 million available to be included in the 2013 budget. The county has about $263,000 less in carryover money at the end of 2011.

Graham said the cash carryover "is a tribute to the fiscally conservative nature of the commissioners." He commended the county auditor's office for being conservative in its revenue estimates and closely watching the county's budget.

"This is good news heading into 2013," said Commissioner David Maple. "We still need to be really conservative."

Maple said the county may not be in the same position come 2014. He said county departments did a good job staying within the budget amount allocated.

Commissioner Tom Gentile said the financial condition of the county didn't happen overnight.

Fact Box

Jefferson County commissioners will hold a reorganization meeting at 11 a.m. Monday at the

courthouse in Steubenville.

"This is something that happened year after year with good fiscal management. We have kept the spending down and cut the (employee) rolls through attrition. I don't want to lift the foot off the brake just yet," he said.

Graham he wants the commissioners to finalize the 2014 budget as soon as possible. Commissioners met with department heads in November to begin the budget process.

Commissioners also signed paperwork citing substantial completion of an energy-savings program. The county took out a $1.3 million loan for a 17-year period through the state for Johnson Controls to install energy-saving equipment, such as lights, low-flush toilets and heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, at various county buildings.

Johnson Controls has guaranteed the county will save more in energy bills than the cost of the loans. The county is expected to save between $100,000 and $130,000 a year through the program.

Commissioners also signed the deed transfer of 4.8 acres of land at the county's industrial park to Northeast Ohio Premiere Pump.

The company is expected to have 12-15 employees and concentrate on the gas and oil drilling industry. The land was sold for $10,000 an acre.